Showing posts with label calm. Show all posts
Showing posts with label calm. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Just Be

Just Be

(my mantra )

I have "Just Be" tattood on my wrist, as a reminder to allow things to unfold naturally. It is so easy to wish for a specific outcome, to continually push until you get what you want. In doing this, you go against the natural flow of the universe.  "Just Be" were the words my grandmother always used...to remind us as children to let things be as they were meant to.



Yoga is a way of life..more that just asanas (postures) and includes moral codes, called Yamas and Niyamas.  The one that I have been working on lately is called Tapas, which focuses on discipline and endurance . The discipline deals with the body, speech and the mind.  It is about controlling our language and thoughts as well as physical wants.

A million thoughts go thru our minds a day. Have you ever taken notice to how many are positive or negative thoughts? The goal with Tapas, is to think kind and loving thoughts as these thoughts become our words and these words become our actions. 

In focusing on Tapas , you may find that you distance yourself from friends or family that gossip or put others down. There are some that live constantly in this state of negativity and want to drag you in. This is the time to be firm and redirect your attention to something positive. Fasting, meditating and pranayama(breathing techniques) are all ways that you can practice self discipline and focus on positve actions, positiive speech and positive thinking.

Remember to take time for yourself and quiet your mind and to JUST BE.

Here are a couple of things to help you work on Tapas:
What techniques do you use to quiet your mind?
Recall a challenging situation where you were mindfull of the words you spoke




Thursday, May 2, 2013

Kids Yoga

I was happy to be asked to help teach some children yoga at The Children's Museum at Navy Pier last Sunday.

My friend and fellow yogi Shalise from Blossfolds Yoga invited me to help some Chicagoland Girl Scouts earn a badge by learning how to be fit and healthy .

We had so much fun with the girls and even had a 22 month old join in on the fun. We incorporated poses such as octopus (partnering with another girl), lizard on a rock, bridge , boat, conch shell, tree and everyone's favorite pose..savasana.

Yoga has so many wonderful benefits for children . It teaches them how to focus, teaches patience and mindfulness as well as teaches them how to calm themselves in a stressful situation .

Thank You Blissfolds for asking me to help out with the girls . Such a wonderful way to spend the day!

(Photos ©Blissfolds and ©city yoga Chicago )